Automatic gas shut-off valve



April 1^, 1930. 1 D. LovEKlN 15752677 AUTOMATIC-@As SHUT-OFF VALVE Filed March 8. 1928 close the instant lthat a -valve mechanism `,In order 'tobetter understand `the a forms of Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITEDr gsTATlazs PATENrjorfricE LUTHER n. Lovnimr, or mitiiwoon, rmsvnvsma l Urom'ric eas snor-ora' viinvii Application led March 8,

In the operation of hot waterheaters and boilers utilizing gas as the heating medium, excessive temperatures are frequently attained which are apt to cause damage to the 5 heating apparatus.

1o the event that a dangerously high temperature should be reached;

A further object 'of the invention is to provide novel means including a fusible disc which is adapted to yield to permit the closin of a valve to cut oil the supply of gas todevice in case the water having internally screw-threaded openings 2,

a urner or heating in the'boiler of a water heater or boiler of other character with which the said means may be associated should become heated to a temperature beyond the limit of safety for the particular boiler. i

It also is an object of the invention to' rovide a device of the characterl indicated in which the fusible disc referredto is insulated from 'the gas which may flow through the valve, whereby the 'Withdrawal of heat from said disc by the flow of gas throughthe valve body or casing is. prevented and whereby also the tern erature of said disc will be more nearly t e same as that of the water 'in the boiler with which the said device may be associated. This will permit the valve lto predetermined maximum tem'dperature of the water in the boiler is att-aine A more specific object of the invention.re sides in constructinga mountingfor the fusible disc, referred to above, which may be easily inserted into and removed fromthe of which it forms a part.

tages of my invention,:refe`re"nce may beli'ad to the"accompanying'idrawing," in. which I g have' illustratedone y'embediment'- i'.he`re of However, itis to be lunderstood ythatthe 111-' vention is susceptible of embodiment 1n other construction than that'shown an that various changes may the invention as defined in the claims.'

rod or :12,l as is 'clearlybshowm and 13 maybe provided the nut 12 in place.

(ivanvrod 10 and the valve 5 is facilitated by a'screw slot 14 may d lThe be made in the details of construction without departing vfrom -threaded plug 15.

v AA li llowmtegralextension 16 In the drawing: i

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a device embodying my invention attached to a boiler or hot water tank and showing the valve in its normally open position Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device showing the valve after it has .been moved into closed position; y

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the-line'3-3 of Fig. 15 and Figa 4 is a view, showing in longitudinal section a modified structure embo ying the invention, certain parts ofthe .structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 being broken away and omitted.- l- 65 The numeral 1 designates a valve body either one of which will constitute the inlet to .thevalve and the .other the outlet, and with which the gas supply and delivery pipes (not'shown) will be connected in the usual manner.` The interior of the valve body is traversed by. a partition 3 havingja port 4 therethrough which is controlled by the valve seat with which the-valve 5 engages when 1t is free tomove to 4ite `closed position. The sprin 9 which is inserted between the valve 5 and t e closed end of the cap 7 constantly urges the valve 5 toU closed position.. A valve stein 10, havingv an enlarg ead 11, is secured to thevalve 5f by means of the nut y if desired, a'pm yin ss'emblage of the valve 'A driver slot 14, which is cut in the end of the enlargement 11 'already vreferred to. The' alsobe engaged by a siutabl grinding tool to grind the valve to its seat 8.

serte Ainto the cap 7 by removing the'screwattached Vtothe valve casing by if so 1 cess 8 in the partition 3 constitutes a valve asf the rod 10 to retain 90 riding tool (not shown)` may be ine;

afm ab' on the valve body 1, as is clearly shown. The extension 16 is provided with screw threads which permit the valve to be attached as a unit to a hot water tank or boiler 17, and when so positioned the extension 16 will protrude into the tank or boiler 17, as shown in the drawings. A disc 18 is fit snugly into a recess 19 which is cut 0n the interior of the valve body or casing 1 where it joins with the extension 16 already referred to. The disc 18 normally is held in position by means of a spring 20 inserted between the disc and the valve 5 and surrounding the rod 10. The said disc constitutes a guide for the stem 10 projected therethrough and also acts as a partition between the valve passage and the interior of the extension 16. for a purpose which will later appear. The disc may be withdrawn from its recess 19 by the action oi a pin 21 which is inserted through the rod 10 and which will engage with the disc when the rod is moved outwardly from the valve casing.

The rod 10 normally rests against a. fusible disc 22 which will soften when heated to a selected predetermined temperature. which disc is mounted within a cartridge 23 and held upon a shoulder 24 therein over a n opening 25 in sa'id cartridge by means of a sleeve nut 26. The interior of the hollow exten sion 16 is suitably bored to receive the cartridge 23. and in order to permit quick withdrawal of the cartridge, a pin 27 (similar to the pin 21 described above) is inserted through the rod or stem 10 after the free end of the latter has been projected through an opening 28 in the sleeve nut 26. Shoulders 29 are formed at the end of slots 30 which are provided interiorly of the sleeve nut 26. The slots are longitudinally disposed on the interior of the sleeve nutand are placed diametrically opposite one another, as shown,Y The slots will permit the pin 27, already referred to, to be drawin into contact with the said shoulders, and it will be apparent that by means of this construction the cartridge 23 may be removed from the .valve casing by lwithdrawing the valve and its stem after the cap 7 has first been removed. The cartridge 23 may be adjusted to different positions in the extension 16 by means of the rod 31 which engages its inner end. The rod 31 is provided With exterior screw threads which en- Y. gage interior screw threads in the extension 16, as shown at 32, and adjustmentof the rod 31 is effected by engaging a'wrench with the squared end 33. This adjustment must be made before the valve is attac-hed to the tank or boiler. The adjustment is preferably made permanent by soldering or otherwise securing the rod 31 against movement in the sleeve-16. The primary purpose in provid ing the adjusting means just described is to prevent the cartridge 23 from jamming in the extension 16 with which it has slidable engagement.

In the operation of the present invention the valve will be attached to a hot water tank or boiler by being tightly screwed into an opening located at a point near the top of the tank where it will be subjected to the maximum temperature of the walter. The gas supply and delivery pipes will be connected to the valve in the usual way. It will be understood that before installing the device the cartridge containing the fusible disc will be adjusted in the casing as previously described, and the valve will be held in its open position hy means of the stem 10 contacting with the said disc. The tubular extension 16 protruding into the tank is heated by the water therein. and it t'ollows that the heat will be conducted through the rod 31 and the wall of the casing extension zo the. earv tridge 23. From the latter the heat will be transmitted to the fusible disc 22. and when the water in the boiler reaches a certain teluperature, wl rh will be predetermined by the emplejment of a disc fusible at a selected tempera 1re. the disc will soften sufiieicutly to permit the spring 9 to suddenly force the rod 10 through the same and into the opening 25. The valve 5 will then assume y.lost-d position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The softening ot the disc 22 enables it to be punctured hy the rod 10.- whieh virtually cuts a slug therefrom, as is illustrated iu Fig. 2. This indicates that the closing action of the valve is quick and positive and not of sufficient duration to permit fiareback of the gas burner.

After the valve 5 has closed, as just described, the valve, together with the valve rod 10, the partition 18. and the cartridge 23, may be quie :ly 'withdrawn from the valve casing by unscrewing the cap 7. In practice it. is found that if the punctured disc is permitted to remain in the cartridge it will melt and tend to solder the parts together. It is therefore desirable to withdraw the cartridge and its perforated disc from the casino in the manner above described as soon as the latter has been punctured. The punctured disc may then be replaced by a new or unpunctured disc and the device made ready for further use.

In Fig. 4 a modified form of device embodying the invention is shown, with parts broken away. The valve casing 31 has a tubular extension 35 formed integrally therewith and by means of which the valve is attached to a boiler or tank. The extension 35 is bored to receive a plurality of partitions 36 through which the rod 37 is guided. The rod 37 normally centers and bears upon the fusible disc 38 carried in the cartridge 39. The cartridge 39 is adapted tovbe adjusted in the same manner as the cartridge 23 of F ig. 1 by means ofthe screw-threaded plug 40. The

space between the cartridge and the adjointrolling-the flow through said passageway, ing interior `portion of 't `e extension v35 is means normally urging said valve to closed v exaggerated to emphasize the function ofthe position, a-tubular extension on said valve j screw-threaded plug 40 in preventing the casing, means for adjustably niountingafusicartridge from )amming in the said extenble disc in said extension, a rod .interposed 70 s1on. The rod 37is provided with-a plurality between said valve and said fusible disc and 0f pins4l which will engage respectively operating to hold said valve inopen position, with the partitions 36 to eect their withand apartition between the valve passageway drawal.v A pin 42 is also provided in order and the interior of the said extension.

, to withdraw the cartridge 39 from the exten- 3. An automatic` gas shut-off valve, coin- 75 sion 35. The valve rod 37 is provided with 'prisin a valve casing having a passageway an enlarged head 43, normally engaged by the therethrough.I a valve adapted to control the i free end of a valve stein 44 which is separate lov7 of fluid through said passageway, a

from the said rod. tubular extension on said valve casing, a

l The operation of the inodiiedcOnStruGtiOll fusible disc, means within said extension for so of Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that of adjustably supporting said fusible disc, a rod the construction shown in Figs. l and 2 eX-' interposed between said valve and said disc cept that a pluralit oi dead air spaces 0r and normally holding said valve in open pockets within the extension35 further inposition, means tending to move the valve sure the usible disc against the objectionable to closed position, a partition between said 85 cooling effect thereon of the gas which flows valve passageway and the interior of the said f through the valve. The construction of Fig. extension, and means whereby the said partiposition.

4 also differs from. that illustrated in Figs. tion and the said means for supporting the land 2 in that the extension 35 protrudes fusible disc may be withdrawn rom the said further into thetank or boiler than does the extension by removal of said, rod. 90

- extension 16 and the plug 40 is relatively 4. An automatic gas shutroi' valve, coinshort as compared with the rod 31. The porprising a valve casing having aV passageway tion of the extension 35 within which the therethrough, a valve adapted to control the v cartridge 39 is located-pro'ects into the water flow of fluid through said passageway, ,said

in the boiler so that sai cartrid e will be valve being urged toward closed position, :1 95 more directly affected by the heat o the Water tubular extension on said valve casing having kthan in the construction of Figs. 1 and 2. temperature responsive means therein, a rod It will be noted that in both forms ofconinterposed between said valve. and said temstruct-ion the ilow of gas thro h the valve perature responsive `cans, said rod being' casing or body will not apprecia lyalter the normally supported by said temperature re- 100 temperature of the disc 22 because of the sponsive means to hold said valve in o en presence of the dead air pockets or spaces in position, and means including a remova le the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and partition for providing a dead air space bethe similar spacesin the construction as illustween the said passageway and said means. v

40 trated in Fig. 4 wherein two of the pockets 5, .An automatiegas shut-oil' valve, com- 105 or spaces are provided.A These air pockets or prising a valve casing having a passageway spaces constitute heat insulating means, and therethrough, a valve in said casing adapted as a result of their presence `the flow of cool to control the iow of gas through said pasgas through the passageway ofthe valve body sageway and normally'urged to closed posior casing does not aiect appreciably or in any tion, ahollow extension projecting from said 11o substantialway the temperature of the fusible valve casing, temperature responsive means discs. In consequence the softening of the mounted in said extension adapted to support said discs to an extent't permitthe' punctursaid valve in open position, and a removable ing thereof by ei -herthe rod 10 or vthe rod 37 partition provided in said casing which partakes place at all times when thewater inthe tition causes a dead air space to be foi-ined 115 boiler or tank-has attained a selected lpiefor insulating said temperature responsive determined maximumtemperature.y means from the flow o `gas tliroughsaid Having thus'describedm ,invention what valve passageway:

, Iclaim anddesire tosecureyLetters 4atent i 6. An automaticgas shut-o i valve, com-V is: -V .i t prising' a valvecasing having atubular eit-k 120 Y Y Linautomatic'gasqsliut-oyalve, com- `tension formed thereon a valveinountedin j; Yprisi avalve casing, a valve infsaidlcasing said casing, in eans rovided in said extension Y normnlyurged to'closediposition, a tubular Ah`a vin` a; fusible isk mounted. therein, the

extension fori'ned, on said valve casing, and said sk being engagedby one .end 0f D l' e0 a. fusible discadjustably mounted iii=fsa.'idfeic4 'the-.other end of whi c h, is connecte tensioniadapted to'supportsaid'valvein opeijiyfsaid vulva-the said disk normally operatin fito hold vthesaid vvalve in open position, an

d to .the 1125 7. An automatic-gas shut-oli' valve, comprising a valve casing having a tubular extension formed thereon, a valve mounted in said Casing, means for mounting a fusible disk in said extension, a rod located in said casingr one end of which contacts with the said disk and the other end of which is oonnected to the said valve, the said disk no1'- mally operating to hold the said valve in open position, means for adjusting said first named means in the said tubular extension, and means for removing the said first named means from the said tubular extension by removal of said rod.

8. An automatic gas shutoff valve, com prising a valve casing having a tubular eX- tension formed thereon, a valve mounted in said casing, removable means provided in said extension for supporting a fusible disk therein with which disk contacts one end of a rod the other end of which is connected to the said valve, and the said disk normally operating to hold the said valve in open posi tion, and means for Connectingl the said rod to the first named means.

9. An automatic gas shut-0,1? valve, comprising a valve casing having a passageway therethrough, a valve adapted "21o control the How of fiuid through said passageway, a tubular extension formed on said 'valve casing, removable means loeated'in said for supporting a fusible disk therein with which disk contacts one end of a rod the other end ofwhich is connected to the said valve, a removable partition interposed between said passageway and the interior of the said extension, and means for connecting the said rod to the first named means and to the said partition.

10. An automatic gas shut-off valve, comprising a valve casing havin a passageway therethrough, a valve adapted to control the How of fluid through said passageway, a tubular extension formed on said valve casing, means located in said extension for supporting a fusible disk therein with which disk `contacts one end of a rod the other end of which is connected to the said valve, a partition interposed between the said passageway and the interior of the said eXtension, and means forremoving the said first named means and the saidpartition from the said valve casing by removal of said rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto` signed Vmy name this 7th da of March,1A. 11.1928.

L THER D. LOVEKIN.

extensionl 

